TORONTO — John Tory has been elected the new mayor of Toronto, in a race that was nearly overshadowed by the personal scandals of outgoing Mayor Rob Ford.

The moderate conservative had 40% of the vote, compared to 34% for closest rival Doug Ford, Rob's older brother. Left-leaning Olivia Chow was third with nearly 23%. The results were announced with nearly 100% of polling stations reporting.

"Together, like never before, we begin building Toronto the Great," Tory said in his victory speech. "I will be a balanced and accountable leader, and we’re going to do this together."

The race for Toronto's top political office was marked by months of scandal. Rob Ford, 45, has had a high-profile struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, since admitting in November 2013 that he used crack cocaine while in office. Rob pulled out of Toronto's mayoral race last month following a medical emergency, and later revealed that he was diagnosed with malignant liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer. Doug, 49, replaced his brother on the ballot.

On Monday night, Rob easily won Ward 2 Etobicoke North, where he served as city councillor from 2000 to 2010. After his landslide victory, Rob strongly hinted that he may run for mayor again in Toronto's next election. "In four more years, you're going to see another example of the Ford family never, ever, ever giving up," he said.

The outgoing mayor confirmed his goal to The Toronto Sun. “I will be running for mayor in four years,” he told the newspaper. “I will be the first person to sign up in 2018.”

Rob became mayor in 2010, while Doug was elected councillor in Ward 2. The elder Ford said in February that he would not seek re-election in Ward 2, but would be running his brother's mayoral campaign.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., local time, Monday, though some stations reportedly extended their hours following high voter turnout. More than 1.6 million Toronto residents were eligible to vote at 1,679 polling stations. Turnout this year was 64.3%, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In Toronto's last mayoral election in 2010, it was 50.55%.

Tory, 60, had a comfortable lead going into Monday's election, with a Saturday poll from Forum Research giving him a commanding 12-point lead over Doug Ford. According to the poll, Tory had 44% support and Ford 32%, while 21% chose Chow, an early frontrunner whose campaign eventually unraveled. Only 3% said they would vote for another candidate.

"The Tory story has been one of slow and steady progression from third to first place, and he seems destined, finally to be mayor on Tuesday morning," Forum Research said Sunday in a release. "By contrast, Olivia Chow may have teased us too long, peaked too early and lost relevance by the end of the campaign."

"Doug Ford had Ford Nation on his side, of course, but there's a hard ceiling of about 35% on that group."

Tory's number-one priority is to expand transit to tackle congestion in the city, promising to relieve Toronto's overcrowded subway system in seven years. His solution: a 22-station, 53-kilometer surface line called SmartTrack. Tory also aims to keep taxes low, especially property taxes.

The second time's a charm for Tory. He unsuccessfully ran for Toronto mayor in 2003, coming a close second to David Miller, who served at city hall until 2010. "I would really like to be mayor," he said after losing.

Tory moved on to provincial politics the following year, and was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in 2004. Following a failed attempt to win a seat in a by-election, he resigned as leader in 2009.

From lawyer to businessman and broadcaster, Tory's career has been long and varied, though he has never strayed far from politics. Throughout the 1970s, Tory was a journalist for Rogers Broadcasting. Then from the 1980s to early '90s, he held various positions at Torys LLP, an international business law firm. Tory later returned to Rogers Communications in 1995, first serving as CEO of Rogers Media and then as CEO of Rogers Cable until 2003.

Following his tumultuous career in provincial politics, Tory again embraced broadcasting, and began hosting a local radio talk show. He also maintained a high profile in Toronto as founding member and former chair of the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, an advocacy group.

Tory will be sworn in as Toronto's 65th mayor in early December. Rob Ford will remain in office until then.

The three top mayoral candidates, Olivia Chow, Doug Ford and John Tory shared a moment of levity following a debate on Oct. 23.

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